Melissa Ivy Rauch was born in Marlboro, New Jersey, to Susan and David Rauch. She has a brother, Ben, and was raised in a Jewish household. Rauch attended Marymount Manhattan College in New York City, where she received a BFA degree. While going to school, Melissa performed stand-up comedy around Manhattan, and soon made a name for herself on the NYC comedy scene. Her one-woman show, “The Miss Education of Jenna Bush”, in which she portrayed Jenna Bush, the former President’s daughter, garnered critical acclaim and played to sold-out audiences (Outstanding Solo Show and TheaterMania’s Audience Favorite Award–New York International Fringe Festival/HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival). Melissa resides in Los Angeles, California, with Winston Rauch (born Winston Beigel), her husband and writing partner.